By Jake Donovan

Frank Warren and Tyson Fury can’t force Wladimir Klitschko into the ring, but for once they can claim the upper hand in dictating a timetable to which he will need to make a decision regarding the mandatory title challenge.

Fury and his team knew heading into his rematch with Dereck Chisora last November that even with a win and being named mandatory challenger by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) wouldn’t guarantee that his next fight would be for the title. It’s why Warren raced to secure plans for a stay-busy fight the moment Fury forced Chisora to quit after 10 rounds.

With that came the call for the top-rated heavyweight to face Christian Hammer, with that bout taking place February 28 at the O2 Arena in London, England.

The fight was scheduled once it was made clear that Klitschko would explore an optional defense in April for his next ring appearance. The World heavyweight king—who also possesses a slew of alphabet belts and a slew of mandatory challengers to go along with the hardware—is currently in negotiations to face unbeaten American contender Bryant Jennings, with the bout targeted for April 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

With a win in February, Fury (23-0, 17KOs) will be sitting pretty, having to do no more than wait out the results of Klitschko’s next fight without fear of being put on ice.

“The situation is they’ve allowed—(Klitschko has) been allowed another opportunity to defend his title, then has 30 days to negotiate this fight (with Fury),” Warren clarified. “Nothing has changed other than he was supposed to fight in March but it’s been pushed back to April.”

Klitschko’s last fight came on November 15, scoring a 5th round knockout of previously unbeaten Kubrat Pulev, who was the mandatory challenger as recognized by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

A showdown with Jennings would actually pave the way for complete unification of the heavyweight division; Klitschko owns all of the belts except for the World Boxing Council (WBC), who recognizes Bermane Stiverne as its champion.

Stiverne is currently slated to face unbeaten mandatory contender Deontay Wilder on January 17 in Las Vegas. The winner was due to face Jennings—the next mandatory challenger to that title behind Wilder. However, a Klitschko-Jennings showdown would free up the January 17 winner to either make an optional defense or pursue a unification bout.

It goes without saying that Fury and Warren will have their say should Klitschko attempt to pursue any other fight beyond April. As for total unification, the unbeaten Brit is right in line with the rest of the division’s top players.

“Once I deal with Wladimir Klitschko, I will be unifying the heavyweight division,” Fury promises.

Until then, all he can do is treat each preceding fight as an audition.

“I got in some good rounds and landed some big hooks in my last fight with Dereck Chisora,” Fury says of arguably his career-best win, though coming after having fought just four rounds in the previous 19 months. “Hopefully I will land some big hooks in this upcoming fight and show Klitschko what I am made of.”

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox